2024-01-312023/24:SoU12 · p.12SoUHealth & social services
Financing of dental care
Financing a strengthened dental-care subsidy
What's at stake: The decision affects who receives free or subsidised dental care: younger adults risk losing today's support in order to fund a broader cost-protection scheme meant to prioritise older people with worse dental health.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether financing a strengthened state dental-care subsidy should come from lowering the age limit for free dental care and abolishing the double dental subsidy, or whether the government should review this financing model before it is carried out.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the government, in line with the Tidö agreement, has commissioned an inquiry into strengthening dental care's cost-protection scheme and announces in the budget bill adjustments to the state dental subsidy and the age limit for free dental care, and does not consider that the Riksdag should take any further initiative; the motions are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 16 (S, MP)
The reservation warns that the government's one-sided saving in dental care - lowering the free-dental-care age from 23 to 19 and abolishing the double dental subsidy for 24-29-year-olds, a saving of SEK 550 million a year - will only hit those with already the worst dental health, and wants the government to reconsider the issue.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 16 by S, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, VVänsterpartiet
Ja 194–109Ja 161–142
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/94/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motions 2023/24:1361 by Peter Hedberg and Anna-Belle Strömberg (both S) and 2023/24:2617 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) point 93.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:1361 av Peter Hedberg och Anna-Belle Strömberg (båda S) och 2023/24:2617 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 93.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected approximately 70 motions on medicines and dental care from the general motion period in 2023. The motions address, for example, accessibility to medicines, medical devices, review of the pharmacy market and financing of dental care. Parliament considers, among other things, that work is already underway in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants medication regulations for elderly people to be monitored and the government to investigate whether a requirement to report suspected medication misuse should be implemented. (S, MP) — Reservation 16
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to expand dental insurance with a high-cost protection precisely because a large group refrains from dental care for economic reasons, and it wants to finance welfare through those with large capital assets and high incomes contributing more.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to expand dental insurance with a high-cost protection precisely because a large group refrains from dental care for economic reasons, and it wants to finance welfare through those with large capital assets and high incomes contributing more. Instead financing high-cost protection with savings that hit those with the worst dental health conflicts with both commitments. The counter-proposal's demand for different financing therefore follows the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bygga ut tandvårdsförsäkringen med ett högkostnadsskydd just eftersom en stor grupp avstår från tandvård av ekonomiska skäl, och den vill finansiera välfärd genom att de med stora kapitaltillgångar och höga inkomster bidrar mer. Att i stället finansiera högkostnadsskyddet med besparingar som träffar dem med sämst tandhälsa strider mot båda åtagandena. Motförslagets krav på en annan finansiering följer därför planen.
- expanded high-cost protection in dental caredecisive»Vänsterpartiet vill därför införa en tandvårdsförsäkring liknande den som finns inom övrig hälso- och sjukvård med ett högkostnadsskydd som gör att vuxna människor med behov inte ska behöva tacka nej till god tandvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party therefore wants to introduce dental insurance similar to that which exists in other healthcare with a high-cost protection that ensures that adults with needs do not have to forgo good dental care.”
- economic barriers to dental care»Detta innebär att en ganska stor grupp avstår från tandvård av ekonomiska skäl.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“This means that a fairly large group refrains from dental care for economic reasons.”
- financing through capital and high incomes»Vänsterpartiet har en skattepolitik som ser till vilka behov som finns och där de med stora kapitaltillgångar eller höga löner får bidra mer till välfärden än de gör idag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party has a tax policy that looks at what needs exist and where those with large capital assets or high salaries contribute more to welfare than they do today.”
- need-driven dental care»Behoven ska styra, du ska inte behöva lösa en privat försäkring för att få en bra sjukvård och tandvård eller en trygg förlossning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Needs shall determine, you should not have to solve a private insurance to get good healthcare and dental care or a safe birth.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan's basic principle is that welfare services are distributed according to need and that resources for welfare should increase instead of being cut back.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's basic principle is that welfare services are distributed according to need and that resources for welfare should increase instead of being cut back. A financing of the high-cost protection that is based on a lowered age limit for free dental care and abolished dental care allowance affects those with the poorest dental health, contrary to the plan's distribution principle. The counter-proposal's demands for a different financing solution are therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planens grundprincip är att välfärdstjänster fördelas efter behov och att resurserna till välfärden ska öka i stället för att vika för besparingar. En finansiering av högkostnadsskyddet som bygger på sänkt åldersgräns för fri tandvård och avskaffat tandvårdsbidrag drabbar dem med sämst tandhälsa, tvärtemot planens fördelningsprincip. Motförslagets krav på en annan finansieringslösning ligger därför i linje med planen.
- distribution according to needdecisive»välfärdstjänsterna fördelas efter behov.« (party programme ↗)“welfare services are distributed according to need.”
- increased welfare resources before cuts»En avgörande fråga i höstens val är om vi ska fortsätta öka resurserna till välfärden, eller om stora skattesänkningar ska gå före.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A key question in the autumn election is whether we shall continue to increase resources for welfare, or whether large tax cuts should come first.”
- equivalent access to healthcare»Alla invånare i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till skola, vård och omsorg.« (party programme ↗)“All residents in the entire country shall have equivalent access to school, healthcare and care.”
The election manifesto wants dental care to be equalized with other healthcare and to be included in the same high-cost protection, and the plan is based on care being distributed according to need with the most seriously ill first.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants dental care to be equalized with other healthcare and to be included in the same high-cost protection, and the plan is based on care being distributed according to need with the most seriously ill first. Financing obtained through lowering the age limit for free dental care and stopping double dental care allowance affects those with the poorest dental health and contradicts the commitment to prevent economic inequality. Therefore financing is supported if reviewed in another way.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill att tandvården jämställs med övrig hälso- och sjukvård och ingår i samma högkostnadsskydd, och planen bygger vården på fördelning efter behov med de svårast sjuka först. En finansiering som hämtas genom sänkt åldersgräns för fri tandvård och slopat dubbelt tandvårdsbidrag träffar dem med sämst tandhälsa och strider mot åtagandet att motverka ekonomisk ojämlikhet. Att finansieringen ses över på annat sätt stöds därför i sak.
- dental care in high-cost protectiondecisive»att tandvården ska jämställas med övrig hälso- och sjukvård, och ingå i samma högkostnadsskydd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that dental care shall be equalized with other health and medical care, and included in the same high-cost protection.”
- care according to need»kvalitet, vara tillgänglig, fördelas efter behov och« (party programme ↗)“quality, be accessible, distributed according to need and”
- prevent economic inequality»vill vi motverka ekonomisk ojämlikhet« (party programme ↗)“we want to prevent economic inequality”
- free care for children»Sjukvården bör vara avgiftsfri« (party programme ↗)“Healthcare should be free”
flags: citat_migrerat
The party programme states that the entire society is lifted when opportunities are strengthened for those who have it worst and that publicly financed services shall be equivalent and of the same good quality for all.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that the entire society is lifted when opportunities are strengthened for those who have it worst and that publicly financed services shall be equivalent and of the same good quality for all. The election manifesto wants to mitigate the worst effects for households with small margins. A saving that hits hardest against those with the worst dental health therefore goes against the plan, and the demand to review the financing of the high-cost protection in another way is supported. The plan does not address the ongoing investigation.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att hela samhället lyfts när möjligheterna stärks för dem som har det sämst och att det offentligt finansierade ska vara likvärdigt och av samma goda kvalitet för alla. Valmanifestet vill mildra de värsta effekterna för hushåll med små marginaler. En besparing som slår hårdast mot dem med sämst tandhälsa går därför emot planen, och kravet på att finansieringen av högkostnadsskyddet ses över på annat sätt stöds. Planen berör inte den pågående utredningen.
- strengthen those worst offdecisive»När vi stärker möjligheterna för dem som har det sämst lyfter vi hela samhället.« (party programme ↗)“When we strengthen opportunities for those who have it worst we lift the entire society.”
- equivalent publicly financed care»Det som det offentliga finansierar ska vara likvärdigt för alla och med samma goda kvalitet till alla.« (party programme ↗)“What the public finances shall be equivalent for all and with the same good quality for all.”
- protect small margins»För att möta detta krävs insatser som mildrar inflationens värsta effekter för dem med små marginaler.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To address this, measures are needed that mitigate the worst effects of inflation for those with small margins.”
- equal welfare for all»Den offentligt finansierade välfärden ska vara av hög kvalitet, jämlik och jämställd samt vara tillgänglig för alla« (party programme ↗)“Publicly financed welfare shall be of high quality, equal and equal and be accessible to all”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto wants the patient to pay less and society to pay more for dental care and wants the subsidy rate to gradually increase for those with the worst oral health.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants the patient to pay less and society to pay more for dental care and wants the subsidy rate to gradually increase for those with the worst oral health. The counter-proposal opposes a new cost ceiling being financed through savings that hit precisely these groups and wants to see other financing. This is directly in line with the plan and with the requirement that nobody shall be forced to forgo dental care for economic reasons.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill att patienten betalar mindre och samhället mer i tandvården och att subventionsgraden gradvis ökar för dem som har sämst munhälsa. Motförslaget vänder sig mot att ett nytt högkostnadsskydd finansieras genom besparingar som slår mot just dessa grupper och vill se annan finansiering. Det ligger direkt i linje med planen och med kravet att ingen ska tvingas avstå från tandvård av ekonomiska skäl.
- patient pays lessdecisive»Tandvårdens finansiering ska steg för steg likna annan sjukvård där du som patient betalar mindre och samhället mer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Dental care financing shall step by step resemble other healthcare where you as a patient pay less and society pays more.”
- prioritise poorest oral health»Nästa steg är gradvis ökande subventionsgrad för de grupper som har sämst munhälsa och nationella tandvårdsprogram för särskilda riskgrupper.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The next step is gradually increasing subsidy rate for those groups with the worst oral health and national dental programmes for specific risk groups.”
- dental care regardless of income»Ingen ska tvingas avstå från tandvård på grund av låg inkomst.« (party programme ↗)“Nobody shall be forced to forgo dental care because of low income.”
- general dental insurance»Tandvårdsförsäkringen ska vara generell och stimulera till förebyggande åtgärder och regelbundna« (party programme ↗)“Dental insurance shall be general and stimulate preventive measures and regular”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto requires strengthened dental care and a lowered high-cost protection, and the party programme establishes that access to healthcare and care should never become a financial matter and that financing should be solidarity-based.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires strengthened dental care and a lowered high-cost protection, and the party programme establishes that access to healthcare and care should never become a financial matter and that financing should be solidarity-based. The counter-proposal opposes a new high-cost protection being financed through savings that affect those with the worst dental health. This aligns with the plan's commitment to good dental care for everyone.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver stärkt tandvård och ett sänkt högkostnadsskydd, och principprogrammet slår fast att tillgången till vård och omsorg aldrig får bli en ekonomisk fråga och att finansieringen ska vara solidarisk. Motförslaget vänder sig mot att ett nytt högkostnadsskydd finansieras genom besparingar som drabbar dem med sämst tandhälsa. Det ligger i linje med planens åtagande om god tandvård för alla.
- lowered high-cost protection in dental caredecisive»Stärkt tandvård för äldre bland annat genom att sänka högkostnadsskyddet för tandvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthened dental care for the elderly among other things by lowering the high-cost protection for dental care.”
- care according to need, not wallet»får aldrig bli en ekonomisk fråga om man ska kunna« (party programme ↗)“shall never become a financial matter if one is to be able to”
- solidarity-based financing»Finansieringen av insatserna inom vård- och omsorgsverksamheten ska vara solidariskt utformad.« (party programme ↗)“The financing of services within healthcare and care services shall be solidarity-based.”
- good dental care for everyone»ska ha tillgång till god tandvård.« (party programme ↗)“shall have access to good dental care.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that all new reforms must be financed or fit within the surplus target and that the large needs within the legal system, defence and welfare require clear prioritization.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that all new reforms must be financed or fit within the surplus target and that the large needs within the legal system, defence and welfare require clear prioritization. The counter-proposal wants to avoid the savings and seek the financing elsewhere, which conflicts with the plan's demands for financing and prioritization. The plan does not address dental care support specifically, so the position is derived from the fiscal framework.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla nya reformer måste finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet och att de stora behoven inom rättsväsende, försvar och välfärd kräver tydliga prioriteringar. Motförslaget vill undvika besparingen och söka finansieringen någon annanstans, vilket strider mot planens krav på finansiering och prioritering. Planen behandlar inte tandvårdsstödet särskilt, så ställningstagandet härleds ur den finanspolitiska ramen.
- reforms shall be financeddecisive»Alla nya löften och reformer – som till exempel våra inkomstskattesänkningar – behöver finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All new promises and reforms – such as our income tax cuts – need to be financed or fit within the surplus target.”
- clear priorities»Vi vet vad som måste göras – och vad som får vänta.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We know what must be done – and what can wait.”
- protected surplus target»Överskottsmålet ska värnas och det är inte aktuellt att övergå till ett balansmål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The surplus target shall be protected and it is not current to move to a balanced target.”
- prioritize and choose what to leave out»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort,« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritize and choose what to leave out,”
The plan's ambition is that the public shall take the same responsibility for oral and dental health as for other health and that all citizens shall be offered dental care on the same terms as other care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's ambition is that the public shall take the same responsibility for oral and dental health as for other health and that all citizens shall be offered dental care on the same terms as other care. Financing should according to the plan be arranged by reviewing public expenditure and redirecting funds to welfare, not through savings in welfare's core. This supports the counter-proposal's demand that financing of the high-cost protection be reviewed in another way.
Original (Swedish)
Planens ambition är att det offentliga ska ta samma ansvar för mun- och tandhälsan som för annan hälsa och att alla medborgare ska erbjudas tandvård på samma villkor som annan vård. Finansieringen ska enligt planen ordnas genom att offentliga utgifter ses över och riktas om till välfärden, inte genom besparingar i välfärdens kärna. Det stöder motförslagets krav att finansieringen av högkostnadsskyddet ses över på annat sätt.
- public responsibility for dental healthdecisive»Ambitionen ska vara att det offentliga ska ta samma ansvar för medborgarnas mun- och tandhälsa, som för annan hälsa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The ambition shall be that the public shall take the same responsibility for citizens' oral and dental health as for other health.”
- redirection to welfare»Se över offentliga utgifter och rikta om medel till välfärden och rättsväsendet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Review public expenditure and redirect funds to welfare and the justice system.”
- welfare before prestige projects»Satsa på välfärden istället för politiska prestigeprojekt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in welfare instead of political prestige projects.”
- dental care as other care»Att alla medborgare ska erbjudas tandvård på samma villkor som annan vård« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That all citizens shall be offered dental care on the same terms as other care.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU12)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1035 — Tillgänglig och jämlik tandvård av Anna Wallentheim (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1062 — Nationell samordning av precisionsmedicin för en jämlik vård av Aylin Nouri (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1079 — En jämlik tandvård av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1124 — Melatonin som kosttillskott av Helena Storckenfeldt och Lars Püss (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:1163 — Folktandvårdsklinikers redovisning av kostnader för papperslösas och asylsökandes tandvård av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1173 — Ett utvecklat folkhälsoarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1228 — Fler beredningsformer för cytostatika av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1302 — Jämlik tandvård av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2023/24:133 — En ersättningsmodell som stimulerar privattandläkare att etablera sig där behoven är som störst av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1353 — Tandvård för alla av Niklas Karlsson (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1358 — En kommunpolitik för hela landet av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1361 — Likvärdiga förutsättningar för folktandvården och privata vårdgivare av Peter Hedberg och Anna-Belle Strömberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1417 — Minskat slöseri med medicin av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1558 — Appläkartjänster, apotek och vårdcentraler av Johan Löfstrand m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1638 — Receptfria och mer tillgängliga naloxonläkemedel av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1713 — Tandvård som ett led i sjukvårdsbehandling för personer med epilepsi av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1855 — Tandvård som en del av övrig sjukvård av Olle Thorell m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1907 — Kostnadsfria mensskydd för flickor och kvinnor av Linnéa Wickman m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1922 — Kostnadsfria mensskydd i Sverige av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1948 — Goda och lika möjligheter till tekniska hjälpmedel vid diabetesvård av Magnus Manhammar (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament